This wasn’t always Google’s strategy — but the turning point came back in 2011.

As it became clear the FTC had its sights set on the company, Google recognized it had no choice but to mature — or risk its own “Microsoft moment.” In the months to follow, the company embarked on a coordinated push to expand its lobbying balance sheet, donate more to lawmakers, connect better with public-interest groups and make new friends in the academic community, many sources told Politico.

Microsoft tried — and failed — to ignore the feds. It’s no shock that Google would seek to lobby those with influence to minimize their own controversial (possibly monopolistic) practices.